Yu Na from Vancouver would have won the 2010 Worlds by about 40 points, and Yu Na from virtually every competition the 3 years preceding Vancouver would have won the 2010 Worlds by over 20 points. A silver medal in such a poor Worlds as proved by an only 5 triple Ando who can do absolutely NOTHING but jump winning those Worlds.

Yu Na won in Vancouver over a mistake prone Mao by 23, both getting inflated scores. Mao skated a great program at world's, with only a 3A<, yet scored lower than Vancouver, 197 without the Vancouver inflation. Yu Na had a mistake filled Sp and FS, yet was somehow was awarded a win in the FS over Mao by 131 to 129. The audience just scratched their heads, wondering why.

Yu Na won in Vancouver over a mistake prone Mao by 23, both getting inflated scores. Mao skated a great program at world's, with only a 3A<, yet scored lower than Vancouver, 197 without the Vancouver inflation. Yu Na had a mistake filled Sp and FS, yet was somehow was awarded a win in the FS over Mao by 131 to 129. The audience just scratched their heads, wondering why.

Mao from the 2010 Olympics would have still easily won the 2011 Worlds herself. Her SP alone from Vancouver would have put her way ahead and out of reach. Ando from the 2011 Worlds was basically the same or worse as the 2010 Olympics where she herself came only 5th, and which is where here 2011 World performance would have placed her (at best) in Vancouver as well. So whatever you are talking about has nothing to do with my point in the quote.

Yu Na won in Vancouver over a mistake prone Mao by 23, both getting inflated scores. Mao skated a great program at world's, with only a 3A<, yet scored lower than Vancouver, 197 without the Vancouver inflation. Yu Na had a mistake filled Sp and FS, yet was somehow was awarded a win in the FS over Mao by 131 to 129. The audience just scratched their heads, wondering why.

Let's face it - ISU judges and tech panels are all over the place.

Any realistic attempt to figure out Mao's chances - or other skaters - depends alot on who is working the tech panel as well as the judges.
Too much still depends on where events are held.....

Just look at Finlandia for an example. Then compare that to what we will see at the GP. Then we will see Euros and 4CC judged totally differently and Worlds again could seem different. Yet it is the same sport with the same system......

But you can bet Sochi will have some amazingly high scores even if it is poorly skated..

The judging system doesn't matter nearly as much as who is in charge of it. In case nobody noticed it's mostly the same folks who were told to cleanup their act or be banned from the Olympics.

Making something more secretive is not to be confused with making it more fair...or God forbid...more accurate.

But ando in 2010 was still making a huge error by doing 3 lz 3 loop that she always ured and the rules were so strict that loop was was worth 2 loop plus you add the negative goe it was a mistake. She got smarter and just did 3 lz 2 loop plus did five jumps just when the bonus started. 2011 world ando was much smarter than 2010 Olympic ando.

But ando in 2010 was still making a huge error by doing 3 lz 3 loop that she always ured and the rules were so strict that loop was was worth 2 loop plus you add the negative goe it was a mistake. She got smarter and just did 3 lz 2 loop plus did five jumps just when the bonus started. 2011 world ando was much smarter than 2010 Olympic ando.

That was just in the SP in Vancouver. She does a nice triple-double in the short like the long she still finishes 5th overall.

Yeah she wasn't going to do that much better at the Olympics. Top 3 was all settled with them mostly getting 8's in pcs and 30+ in that area but she was much smarter in Moscow about points and everything. She learned and morozov learned from vancouver. Her 2011 win was done in a way that may not have been inspiring but worked. Yuna with the single flip after he 3/3 cost her the win.

kinda of agree with janetfan.
unforunately skating community doesn't realize they are taking a step backward ever time they cheat, overlook, manipulate, finesse a score for their favorite instead of true score, or push a skater just because of something, someone, federation and they a mildly okay at best,( i can think of a few current U.S. ladies they fit that bill, ).
they want to win, not who skates well,. They have to look at everyones mistakes regardless and not just the ones they don't want up on top. all of them
it doesn't help the big 4 (u.s., canada, japan, russia, ) throws their weight around too much to get what they want and don't help out the lesser countries that are starting out. (doesn't help they want to cut down from 24-18 and state they are growing when in fact they are really shrinking - gp event skaters from 12-10 and to 8 in pairs, & dance. how is that growing

Yes, but my worry now is Chan. If he even lands half his jumps it will be considered " a great comeback"

The scores will be laughably obscene.

And figure skating will take another big step backwards.

I can feel the hatred about Chan so I will duck, pray for protection. Ah yes, if Chan is inconsistent and sloppy what does that say about Tak, hanyu, joubert, Verner, Brezina et al. Other than Plushy who is consistent with his jumps and sure Tak has had a couple in a row good skates but really not much consistency if you want to call it.

Not sure if the sport can withstand the greatness of Patrick's consistently sloppy skating.

But there is always snowboarding for N. American fans that are more into real spot

Hmm I risk getting killed her but people if Chan is sloppy or inconsistent think about it for a second. Other than perhaps Plushy which man is really consistently landing all the jumps? Tak has had a few in a row but remember he has had his slop and falls too. Hanyu, Kozuka, Oda, Verner, Brezina, Joubert, Amodio , the American men (the fact that they have trouble keeping the same men going to worlds shows consistency issues well no one is that consistent as to landing jumps (there are some consistent skaters who you can count on falling though LOL).

Back to the post title. Mao will win if she skates the best. The judges are willing to give her the marks but she has to land those jumps and skate with conviction. Over the last few yearsi have seen the joy and conviction wane. Of course, if YUNA can match her well she might have a problem but this is not a situation where judges are hostile to Mao.

Mao from the 2010 Olympics would have still easily won the 2011 Worlds herself. Her SP alone from Vancouver would have put her way ahead and out of reach. Ando from the 2011 Worlds was basically the same or worse as the 2010 Olympics where she herself came only 5th, and which is where here 2011 World performance would have placed her (at best) in Vancouver as well. So whatever you are talking about has nothing to do with my point in the quote.

Yes, but you are telling people **** and it's worth correcting. Yu-Na from every competition 3 years preceding Vancouver wouldn't have won at 2010 Worlds where Mao scored almost 200 points even though two of her highly difficult triple axels were downgraded.

Miki from 2011 Worlds was much better skater than Miki from Vancouver. Her spins improved tremendously and she used the system a lot better. Besides, her short program was simply beautiful.

Yes, but you are telling people **** and it's worth correcting. Yu-Na from every competition 3 years preceding Vancouver wouldn't have won at 2010 Worlds where Mao scored almost 200 points even though two of her highly difficult triple axels were downgraded.

Miki from 2011 Worlds was much better skater than Miki from Vancouver. Her spins improved tremendously and she used the system a lot better. Besides, her short program was simply beautiful.

Not sure where you are getting this info, but I believe at 2009 worlds, Yuna scored 207 points with a popped salchow and invalid spin. At 2009 TEB, Yuna got 210 with a missed flip, at her very first event of the season. So I doubt that Asada would have bettered those scores even with 2 valid triple axels.

This question cannot be answered without a lot of tenuous assumptions about how Asada versus the rest of the field will skate from here on to Sochi. Had anyone asked the same questions about Vancouver in 2008, Mao would have been the number #1 favorite to win. She was the World Champion and far more heavily favored by the judges at the time.

If we assume she continuous to improve and skates clean in Sochi...If we assume the Russian prodigies do not live up to their promise... If we assume her other potential senior rivals Carolina, Ando, Kim, etc. don't skate their best, retire or withdraw...If we assume no new rules will be introduced next year that could hurt her chances...If we assume she sustains no major injury between now and Sochi...

etc. You get the idea. Then her chances of winning are good. There's one thing she's got going for her, she does have the fiery motivation to win at Sochi. Her other older rivals like Carolina Kostner or Yuna Kim may not be so committed, especially Yuna, considering they already got what they wanted (World titles and Olympic gold).

You really should ask this question after this season's World Championship. There's always been a strong correlation between the Olympic champion and pre-Olympics World champion, even in the post-figures 6.0 era and in the CoP era (Michelle Kwan notwithstanding). Even in the last two decades, that has held true for Yamaguchi, Baiul, Lipinski, and Kim (4 out 6 Olympics since the elimination of figures). I expect this season's World Champ will have the strongest chance of winning Sochi if she skates relatively clean.